I had a conversation with a friend recently. We were talking about her 12 year old daughter and what books the daughter has been reading, what she'd like to read, and what her mom wanted her to read. During the conversation, I mentioned how as an adult I have a greater ability to discern good role models vs. bad ones, whereas a young teen doesn't, and I can see how some parents desire to know what sorts of things their daughters (and sons!) are putting into their minds. Plus I'd want my child to read a story of quality! There's much to be said about escapism and pleasure reading, but the quality of the writing is still important.
Then I ran across this post via Pinterest and my mind just started whirring! I read a great deal of YA stories, as well as I have read books all my life. So I challenged myself to come up with a list of books that are well-written, fun, and have great character development. In short, stories that would hold a young girl's attention, yet not give her questionable role models. (i.e. As much as I enjoyed the Twilight series the first time I read them, I have to say that I wouldn't want my 11, 12, 13, or even 14 year old daughter to read them. Sorry.)
So! Here is my list of books (and characters!) I'd want my {currently nonexistent} daughter to read (also, I did borrow several from the original list I read, it's a great list!):
- Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, The Chronicles of Narnia series
- Laura, Little House on the Prairie series
- Mary Lennox, The Secret Garden
- Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables series
- Charlotte, Charlotte's Web
- Beezus and Ramona, Ramona Quimby series
- Meg, Glass Girl
- Cori and Mani, My Hands Came Away Red
- Meliara, Crown and Court Duel
- Juli, Flipped
- Julia, Enthusiasm
- Payton, Sean Griswold's Head
- Finley, There You'll Find Me
- Gabi, River of Time series
- Judy Abbott, Daddy Long Legs
- Jemima, Time Enough For Drums
- Chester, The Cricket in Times Square
- Jessica, The Running Dream
- Miranda, Geek High
- Kate, Sketchy Behavior
- Dashti, Book of a Thousand Days
Whew! Quite a list, yes? And I'm sure there are many, many others that I couldn't think of. But these are the ones I've enjoyed greatly and could definitely recommend to my daughter. :) What would you add to this list?
I'd add Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott.Also Sara Crewe from A Little Princess.
ReplyDeleteGreat picks, Robert! Thanks for sharing. Although I do have to admit that I've not read A Little Princess. I should get on that soon. :)
DeleteAhh! Love your list, Kara. SO many names on this are high on my favorites including Anne Shirley, the Narnia children, and of course, Romona and Beezus. What a cute idea. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rissi! It was fun to reminisce about some of my childhood favorites. As well as new ones I've read! :)
DeleteLong list but a very lovely list!
ReplyDeleteThanks Alex! :)
DeleteMy son is currently loving the American Girls books that I loved as a kid. They're junior fiction, not YA, but thought I'd throw them in there too. My favorite was Samantha, but he likes Molly best.
ReplyDeleteOh yes! How could I forget those? Junior fiction totally counts on this list. My favorite was always Kirsten, although Samantha was a close second. I loved those stories when I was a girl! (Okay. I admit it. I still like them. I have a set of Kirsten stories that I pick off the shelf once in a while. ;)
DeleteThey have mysteries now! We've gotten some from the library, and I might have clandestinely read them while my son wasn't looking....
DeleteThey do?! Hmmm. Maybe I should make another visit to the library soon....Oh right! I'm already there! *sneaks off to the children's section* ;)
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